A defiant cafe owner has vowed to continue his battle with a council over work done to a public garden.

Middlesbrough businessman Steve Gavin was slapped with a £1,000 bill after Middlesbrough Council successfully won an injunction against him for putting out chairs on the council-owned land outside his cafe in Linthorpe.

But now Mr Gavin has hit back, lodging an official complaint with the council about the standard of work it has carried out revamping the area - work paid for by a £27,000 donation from himself.

He said: "I have made an official complaint. I am going to get an independent surveyor to come and have a look at the work and tell me whether he thinks it is up to standard."

Mr Gavin gave the council £27,000 to pay for the Rest Garden outside his cafe, SG Eaterie, on Benson Street to be revamped.

But as the Gazette reported previously, he is unhappy over the standard of work.

He claims the paving stones and bricks do not match, cones and materials were left lying about and trees and shrubs are still not planted nine months on.

He said: "The people of Linthorpe deserve better than this."

Middlesbrough Council has defended its work and says the planting will take place in the autumn.

They said much of the cash was spent on new paving, rebuilding walls, adding a ramp, improving draining, and adding new seats, signs and sandstone edges to borders and railings.

A spokesman said the project was now over and most people agree it looks much better.

He said: "We have tried to resolve the issue with Mr Gavin and have made a lot of changes to the scheme.

"We are sorry that he is unhappy with this.

"Members of the public have said the work done so far is a big improvement."